Tubing bleeder



E. D. SMYSER TUBING BLEEDER Feb. 14, 1928.

Flled March 31, 1925 lli1 E7/men mysan Patented Feb. 14,1928. y y l. l* VuNirEDsTA-TES PATENT; orFicE.)

ELT/[ER D. SMYSER; OF FELLOWS, CALIFORNIA, iASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO ROY'M. SMITH AND ONEeTHRD TO PERL E. VVLLAMS, 0F FLLOWS, CALFORNIA.`

TUBING .mannen Application filed March 31, 1925i. rSerial No. 19,744.

This invention relates to improvements in entire `line of tubing,l from the well.` To permeans for bleeding or draining oil tubes or mit `convenient pulling of the tubingit'is the like. y very essential that means be provide-d for An important object of the invention is draining the liquid matter therefrom.r This to provide a device of this character which is most effectively accomplished by the prooo will permit automatic"drainage of the pump vision ot' automatic drainingv means but dittube by suitably actuating the'same. iiculty is encountered in obtaining suitable A further object of the invention is the devices for this purpose.` The type ot ap-Q provision ot a device of the above mentioned paratus now employed for this purpose is ui character whereby oil or other liquid mattei' inetiicient and impractical due to the extreme o5 may bey drained therefrom to permit condiiliculty in operating the same.` My apparaveuient elevation of tho tubing tus is therefore designed to provide a device A still Yfurther object ot' the invention is ci' comparatively simple construction, yet the provision of a tubing bleeder which is positive in operation and durable.

i.; comparatively simple, yet durable of con- Referring now more 'particularly to the 7o structionand etlici-ent for the purpose indevice comprising my invention, I suggest fende@ the removal of the lowermost section oiithe Other objects and advantages of this in-` pump tubing,` and connect iiiiplace thereof a vention will become apparent as the descripplurality ot comparatively short Sections 1l en tion progresses. y and 12.v The upper section 1l is provided 7 Inthe accompanying drawing lforming a with external threads 13 at the lower ex." pai-t' of this speciiication and in' which like tremitvv and similar threads 14 upon the innumerals are employedv to designate like termediate portion thereof. The lower secprts throughut the Same; tion l2 is provided with externally threaded es Figure l isa side elevation ot my iinportions l5 at each extremity and is conso provo@ mechanism partially broken away, nected to the upper section 12 and upper exshown in association lwith awell casing, tfemty 'of the main section 16 by means of 'Figure 2 S a transverse Sectional View internally `threaded connectinl sleeves 17. taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 17 The Upper Sub-ScCt101i 1l is provided, im-

;zo Figure 3 ig, an enlarged longitudinal Soomediately above the lower threaded poi-tion so tion view showing the attachment ot the 13,with an internally screw threaded Openbloelof plug, and ing 18 having iormed aboutthe outer edge Figure l is peyspgctv Vierv ghotviug 111 lllllGO L Sllllhlblel COlltl EXltzlllillly detail a portion oi-A the oppor-log threaded and adapted to threadedly engage as, ln the drawing, wherein tor the purpose the Opening 18 is a bleedei plug 2O compris- 9i, Uf illustration is Shown the prgfml-e'd omingr a body 2l having toi-med' about the "ine h-.idinient of niv invention, the numeral l() UI'hledlli-e portion an annulairing 22l`enggwguy deSig-'nateg the k(Kynnloh typo til@ COdlLH il) ONiQl t0: Pltii well casing widely employed in connection Will@ a lgllt C OHUQ'COD.` rllhc outer vextendy io `with oil Wells and similaroperations. lt is Ult-f 1301151011 01"@1@ bOdY QMS. llwlflwith customary to sink tubingl of substantially 11H M HUMI gOOVe immediately adjacent smaller diameter within'the casingforoplill@ Fmg' 22 and extending approximately eration 'of the pumpine'chanism, this tubing` h'pugh Onejllfilf thev 'flHClIeSs of the inabeing composed of a plurality ot" sections Qlll @Omllllmg the body. 45 positioned into and connected byV suitable Shddbllj' molmld UPON Ulf" 509mm S iol! couplings, not shown. y an actuating-'sleeve Qlltlie inner diameter ln the operation of wells of this character Oli the 10W@ f`POltlOl b @l'g f Sllbgtlntll/ it iswell vknown that the pump valve mount- QYQQI' than th@ tube SQCQS and 'the llPPQl'` iisd inthe lower ,extremity girth@ tubing portion ot increased diameter `so as to be1V ao through which the liquid matter is drawn, loosely slidable over' the upper collar"1 7.`` lof, often. becomes inoperative diie to'- some.l obl. llheiouteii4 contour ot theliupper.n poi'tion'iet .i struction!collectingluponthefseat thereb't orilthesleeye .124e isfcylindritialin. forinrwhil .y A otlieizeauses' sucliiasvlirolreii 'yalvdstructurkethe lower portion is tapered, the loweregxlf Land the lilies V"In orderlrto repair 'orreplaee tremity being substantiallytithesame voutier 55 the valve it is necessary to withdraw the diameter as the lower collar member which UU restricts the downward movement of the sleeve.

A cylindrical frame collar 25 is slidably mounted upon the pump tubing and the lower portion internally screw threaded for engaging with the upper threaded portion 14 o? the section 11. This frame collar 25 carries a plurality, in the present instance four, outwardly bowed spring ribs 26 secured to the lower portion of the collar in any preferred manner and reinforced at the upper portion by auxiliary ribs 27. These ribs normally assume an expanded position substantially greater than the diameter yot the well casing and when positioned within the casing will frictionally engage the inner side thereof. The lower portions of' the ribs 26 are provided with enlarged plates 28 the outer faces thereof being serrated as at 29 to provide gripping means when expanded against the casing.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the pump tubing is being inserted within the well casing the frame collar 25 is threadedly associated with the section threads 14 causing the spring ribs to move downwardly with the tubing. The cylindrical sleeve 24 will naturally remain seated upon the lower collar 17 as shown in Figure 1, by force of gravity and remain inoperative until it is desirable towithdraw the tubing.

lVhen it is desirable to withdraw the tubing from the well casing the fluid is rer leased from the tubing in the following plates 28 the tapered contour of the sleeve 24 spreading the plates and forcing same into positive engagement with the well casing. The plates 28 will therefore remain in a stationary position in engagement with the casing and prevent downward movement of the sleeve 24 permitting same to slide relative to the pump tubing. It is clearly apparent that continued downward movement of the tubing will cause the sleeve 24 to strike the plug extension 21 and sever the same from the main body. Due to the annular groove 23 formed in the plug body the fracture of the plug will naturally be in this section in a continuous and comparatively even manner. The liquid contained in the tubing will thus be permitted to flow into the casing and the pump tubing suitably drained.

It can be readily seen that the device is `very positive and efficient in operation and my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as the preferred example of the saine and that various changes as to the shape, size and arrangeu'icnt of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, l

1. The combination with a pump tube, a bleeder plug mounted in the said tube and including a body having a closure head, and means ior disconnecting the head of said plug from the body of the same.

2. The combination with a pump tube, a bleeder plug mounted in the said tube, means for engaging the extended portion of the said plug, and means for moving the said tube relative to the said plug engaging means.

3. The combination with a pump tube, a bleeder plug having an extended head mounted in the said tube, a striking element mounted in association with the said tube, and means for forcibly striking the said plug against the said striking element.

4. The combination with a pump tubing, a bleeder plug mounted in the said tubing, an outwardly extending head formed on the bleeder plug, a sliding sleeve member mounted about ,the said tubing, and means for moving the said tubing relative to the sliding sleeve member and forcing the head from the plug body.

5. In combination with a well easing and pump tubing therein, a bleeder plug mounted .in the casing and projecting therefrom, a striking sleeve member slidablv mounted on the tubing, means for limiting the movement of the sleeve member relative to the movement of the tubing and means whereby the sleeve may engage the bleeder plug and permit drainage of the fluid therein.

6. In combination with a well casing and pump tubing positioned within the said casing, a bleeder plug having an extension mounted in the tubing and extending outwardly therefrom, means for striking the bleeder plug extension including a` sleeve slidably mounted upon the tubing, and sleeve actuating means including a frame collar tlireadedly mounted in association with the tubing, a plurality of spring ribs carried by the collar engageable with the casing, and

- extensions formed on the ribs for engaging and operating the said sleeve member.

lun

7. A tubing bleeder for wells including a tubing section having an opening, a member mounted for closing said opening, fragile means retaining said member in closing position, and means operable upon movement of the tubing section for dislodging said member by destruction ot' said :tragile means.

8. A tubing bleeder for wells including a tubing section having an opening, al member mounted for closing said opening, fragile means retaining said member in closing position, and means operable upon lowering or the tubing section for displacing said member against the action ot said fragile means.

9. ln a tubing bleeder `for wells, a bleeder plug including a hollow member adapted to be d'etachably secured in an opening ot' a tubing section and provided with an open inner end and a closed outer end, said plug embodying a plurality or portions having fragile means securing them together.

10. In a tubing bleeder for wells, a bleeder' plug including a hollow member adapted to be detachably secured in an opening of a tubing section and provided with an open inner end and a closed outer end, said plug embodying a plurality of portions having tragile means securing them together, the wall of said hollow member being weakened between said portions to term said fragile means.

11. In a tubing bleeder for wells, a bleeder' plug including a hollow member adapted to be detachably secured in an opening of a tubing section and provided with an open inner end and a closed outer end, said plug embodying a. plurality of portions having fragile means securing them together, the wall of said hollow member being weakened by the provision ot an annular groove therein between said portions to form said fragile means.

12. In a tubing bleeder for wells, a bleeder plug including a hollow member adapted to be detachably secured in an opening of a tubing section and provided with an open inner end and a closed outer end, said plug embodying a plurality of portions having fragile means securing them together, the wall of said hollow member being weakened by the provision of an external annular groove therein between said portions to form said fragile means.

13. In a tubing bleeder for wells, .a tubing section having a side opening provided with a threaded wall, and a bleeder plug movably threaded in said opening and including a body having an outwardly projecting closure head connected thereto by fragile means.

14. A tubing' bleeder for wells including a tubing section having a side opening, a bleeder plug closing said opening and having an outwardly extending closure member, fragile. means receiving said closure member in closing position, a striker member engageable with the closure member and displaceable relative to the tubing section Vfor displacing the closure member against the action oi' said fragile means, and means tor-displacing said striker member.

15. The combination with a well casing, and pump tubing positioned in said casing and provided with a bleeder opening, ot a destructable closure plug for said bleeder opening, and means to automatically cause destruction of said closure plug upon movement or' said tubing relative to said casing.

1G. The combination with a well casing, and pump tubing positioned in said casing and provided with a bleeder opening, oi' a destructable closure plug for said bleeder opening, .and means to cause destruction of said closure plug.

17. The combination with a well casing, pump tubing therein having a bleeder opening, and a closure for said bleeder opening, of a member displaceable longitudinally ot said tubing for opening said closure, means to automatically displace said member upon movement oi' the tubing relative to said casing, said, last named means embodying a trame mounted on the tubing and engageable with the well casing for being held stationary with the latter when the tubing is so moved, said frame embodying outwardly bowed spring ribs arranged to engage said displaceable member and to trictionally engage the well casing, and means to positively retain the frame against movement relative to the well casing upon engagement or the spring ribs thereof with said displaceable member.

18. A tubing bleeder including means applicable to the lower end portion of well tubing for automatically opening the bleeder valve of the latter upon lowering of said tubing while operatively positioned in a well, said means including a valve opening member through which the tubing is slidable and elements engageable with the well casing to restrain the valve opening member from lowering with the tubing when the latter is so lowered, whereby the valve opening member is caused to engage and open said bleeder valve when the tubing is so lowered, and means to releasably'secure said elements to the tubing for causing said elements to lower with the tubing when the latter is lowered into the`well casing, said rel-easable securing means being constructed to permit the tubing to be turned relative to said elements .after the tubing is so lowered for releasing said elements from the tubing and allowing subsequent further lowering of the tubing relative to said elements while the latter engage the casing to restrain themselves against further movement relative to the casing.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

ELMER D. SMYSER. 

